If you are choosing between Phuket and Koh Samui for November, the short answer is that Phuket gets noticeably less rain. Below are the figures for two stations of the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD): Phuket and Ko Samui. These are normals for 1991-2020, that is monthly averages, not a forecast for November 2026.
November: Phuket and Samui in numbers
| November indicator | Phuket | Samui |
|---|---|---|
| Rainfall, mm | 178.2 | 444.6 |
| Rainy days | 15.9 | 18.7 |
| Highest one-day rainfall in 1991-2020, mm | 92.9 | 363.9 |
| Days with thunderstorm | 4.8 | 8.2 |
| Mean temperature, °C | 28.0 | 27.1 |
| Daytime mean maximum, °C | 32.1 | 29.7 |
| Night-time mean minimum, °C | 25.2 | 24.1 |
| Relative humidity, % | 79 | 86 |
November is Samui’s rainfall peak: 444.6 mm makes up 22.3% of its annual normal (1,994.3 mm). In Phuket the same month gives 7.8% of the annual normal (2,271.5 mm).
Rainfall and rainy days by month
| Month | Phuket, mm | Phuket, rainy days | Samui, mm | Samui, rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 49.9 | 5.6 | 126.8 | 11.1 |
| February | 24.0 | 3.4 | 64.3 | 5.6 |
| March | 80.7 | 7.5 | 115.8 | 5.9 |
| April | 135.1 | 11.7 | 82.9 | 8.1 |
| May | 236.9 | 18.9 | 131.6 | 14.0 |
| June | 249.4 | 18.6 | 133.6 | 13.1 |
| July | 240.2 | 19.1 | 117.0 | 14.3 |
| August | 308.7 | 19.5 | 102.2 | 14.5 |
| September | 350.4 | 21.7 | 117.5 | 15.0 |
| October | 336.0 | 22.7 | 294.9 | 19.3 |
| November | 178.2 | 15.9 | 444.6 | 18.7 |
| December | 82.0 | 10.3 | 263.1 | 14.2 |
| Year | 2,271.5 | 174.9 | 1,994.3 | 153.8 |
The rainy seasons of the two islands come at different times. In Phuket the south-west monsoon brings rain from May to October; in Samui the peak falls in October to December. So in November Phuket is easing off while Samui is at its wettest.
What this means for a trip
- Beach holiday in November: if you cannot move your dates, Phuket is the safer bet. Bring indoor plans for grey days and watch the beach flags
- Samui in November: possible, but with spare days and a flexible booking; the island’s driest months are February and April
- Driest option in November: look at the east side of the Gulf, Pattaya and Hua Hin; the regions are compared in Thailand in November
- Your own dates and other beaches: the rainfall comparison tool shows November for every coastal region
Who this conclusion does not fit
Normals average 30 years. In a single year November may be dry on Samui and wet in Phuket. One station per island does not describe every beach: weather differs between the west of Phuket and the different coasts of Samui. Sea temperature and wave height are not in the table.
Method and source
The figures are transcribed from the TMD report “Climatological Data of Thailand for 30 Year Period (1991-2020)”: Phuket station (WMO 48 564, printed p. 82) and Ko Samui station (WMO 48 550, printed p. 71). The file was read on 24 October 2026. A rainy day is counted at a 0.1 mm threshold. The November share of the year and the 2.5 times ratio are our calculations from the same values. Phuket’s monthly data are also on the page Phuket weather by month.
FAQ
Does it pour all day on Samui in November?
A normal is not a daily downpour. In November Samui averages 18.7 rainy days out of 30, and the other days are dry. But it is the peak of the year for rainfall (444.6 mm), and the wettest November day on record for 1991-2020 brought 363.9 mm. Plan the trip with spare days.
When is Koh Samui drier than in November?
TMD normals put the lowest rain on Samui in February (64.3 mm, 5.6 rainy days) and April (82.9 mm). From May to September it is 102-134 mm a month, and the wettest months are October, November and December (263-445 mm).
Is the rainy season over in Phuket in November?
It is fading: October in Phuket has 336 mm and 22.7 rainy days, November 178.2 mm and 15.9 days. The dry part of the year, by the normals, is December to March (24-82 mm).
Where is it drier than Phuket in November?
TMD normals show the east side of the Gulf drier in November: Pattaya 56.6 mm and Hua Hin 72.8 mm. The regions are compared on the page Thailand in November.
Is this a weather forecast for November 2026?
No. These are 30-year averages (1991-2020) for two TMD stations: Phuket and Ko Samui. Check the TMD forecast for specific days and waves before you travel.
Sources
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